Chicago couples counseling

Leading Parallel Lives

At some point in your relationship, you may realize that you and your partner have grown distant–so distant that it feels as though you are leading parallel lives.  Maybe you both work stressful jobs, are raising young children, or lack shared interests. Maybe it’s all three.

Regardless of the circumstances, you find yourselves in a position of having little to no quality time together each week, and communication may be limited to scheduling carpools and paying bills.  Over time, this disconnect can seep into every aspect of your relationship, such as your ability to constructively air grievances or be physically intimate with one another.

If you have reached this juncture, it will take time and effort to find your way back to one another.  Through a practice the psychologist Dr. John Gottman has coined “building love maps,” you can become reacquainted with your partner by taking an interest, asking questions, and building your knowledge about the ins and outs of each other’s lives.  In doing so, you can regain a sense of compassion and understanding for your partner. With mutual understanding, you are far more likely to work together as a team to overcome future hurdles.

To learn more about how to reconnect with your partner, reach out to one of our couples counselors by clicking the button below:

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Written by Joanna Aslanian, LPC, ATR-P